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Stafford report delay

The administrators of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust have been granted more time to prepare a report into how the trust should be run. The trust runs Stafford Hospital, where hundreds of patients died needlessly between 2005 and 2009.

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Health watchdog Monitor has announced the report into the future of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust has been delayed.

The Trust, which runs Stafford Hospital, was put into administration in April 2013 after its services were deemed unsustainable.

Trust Special Administrators have been granted an additional 30 working days to find a way of making health services provided by the trust financially viable after applying for an extension last week.

“The TSAs have been set a complex and challenging task and, while any delay is frustrating for patients and staff, it is important to get it right for local patients.

“Monitor’s Board recognised the scale of the challenges in identifying a solution that meets the needs of the local health economy and asked us to exercise even greater scrutiny at this critical stage.”

The Chairman of the Support Stafford Hospital campaign says it is 'dreadful' that the administrators request for more time to come up with a plan for the hospital has come so late.

Administrators, TSA, were due to report back next week with recommendations for the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust after it was found that the trust was not clinically or financially sustainable.

Sue Hawkins, Support Stafford Hospital Chairman said:

"for the public and staff the waiting and anxiety continues. We can only hope that the TSA have realised that there needs to continue to be acute services at Stafford Hospital to serve our expanding community."

50,000 people attend a march in Stafford organised by the Support Stafford Hospital group Credit: ITV News Central

The review by administrators followed the conclusion of the Francis Report that hundreds of people suffered unnecessarily at Stafford Hospital between 2005 and 2009, where patients may have died needlessly because of neglect.

Doctors who decide not to disclose details of their performance should be "named and shamed" the Health Secretary has said.

Jeremy Hunt said: "Subject to proper risk adjustment of the data there can be no valid reason why it should not be published - and the majority of consultants strongly support the case for doing so.

Jeremy Hunt wants every consultant to be "obliged" to disclose details of their performance. Credit: Press Association

"In an era of public concern over patient safety issues at Mid Staffordshire Hospital, this will be a major step forward in restoring public confidence", he added.

It is understood Mr Hunt has asked officials to draw up plans to publish the death rates of NHS doctors as early as next month, and subject to legal requirements, he wants every consultant to be "obliged" to disclose the details.

He made the comments after it was reported doctors would be given the opportunity to opt out of the new league tables which assess their performance.